Day 9 La chapelle St florent to camp site belle Riviere  at Thouare 42km

After great nights sleep we set off along the loire to Ancenis where the weekly market appeared to be in progress, a potter round indicated that except for the live fowl available was quite similar to Morecambe market however with a covered area which did have some great farmers produce and fish stalls. A shopping stop and picnic of the usual Camembert, tomatoes , avocado and yet another tin of tuna and we continued along the fab loire cycle track to the brilliant camp site, recommended by the very helpful girl at St Florent, of Belle Riviere. We could easily have forgone this without her input. A real backpacker special with book swap (unfortunately all French books) the ability to dry ones clothes on a real washing line and a generally relaxed feel. A bit more expensive at 13euros and after a nervous time where i thought the charger or the tablet had broken but then realised we had to pay for electricity 2.80 euro but going to charge all up  to the hilt to prepare us for the next while. The place has a fridge so a trip (slightly scarey one but don't want to frighten the parents explaining why) to the supermarche we got some beers for the evening, cheap as chips :) Little table in the tent site made it a very comfy evening meal, a site to be recommended.

         
Day 8 Vern D'Anjou to the River Loire hopefully. about 40km

Up nice and early, good night despite the frogs chorus in the night. No wonder frogs legs are huge in France cos the actual legs must be huge, only seen one at a distance but they look like they would give a cane toad a bit of a beating. Also seen pretty big white snails so it all makes sense. Handed key back to Anthony the impossibly happy patron even at 8am and with a wave good bye to the lady of the camp who came to our aid and the grounds-woman/cleaner as she cycled cheerfully in off we went. Sat, after 10km cycle at le Louroux-Beconnais where the cafe owner has somewhat balanced out the cheerfulness stakes.

11.45 Montjean sur Loire. A gorgeous 28km ride to here on the Loire  with a little elevenses at villemaisons. The cycling is getting easier by the day and now with the next week or son along the Loire and round and down the coast we should make great time. 15km to go the La chapelle St Florent, where we are reliably informed by yet another knowledgeable and friendly office de tourisme person, we are booked in for a night for 10euro 70cents (expensive now comparitively :-)) It cannot be described how brilliant the cycling is and how day by day one becomes more relaxed. And to anyone out there with aches and pains, give up the day job, camp on a camping mat and cycle through France, that will sort out neck/back/wrist pain, a treat :-) :-)

David did a painting of the Pont de Montjean then 15km cycle to Fontaine. Lovely campsite 10euro and a bargain at that. Potter into old town, just a few bar really but nice. Had beer on side of the Loire, thought it would be extortionate but just same as anywhere else.

Day 7 La Selle Craonnaise to Vern d'Anjou via Renaze 38km

Up early conscious of no ability to have porridge or a cup of tea! Back to Selle but shops still shut at 8.30 therefore headed to Rezere for sustenance and gas canisters YAY to be found at a kind of B&Q - blocmarche for future reference. Cycled then to Segre, pretty town with an office de tourisme that even exceeded friendliness stakes previously encountered, even offered us a nice shady spot for a picnic behind the office!!!!! We declined but how nice. Identified a campsite about 10km away down an orange road (they are OK) but so very nearly got on a horrid red road (they are MAL). Anyway lovely straight undulating road to Vern and the municipal campsite. A bit bizzare just a few campers parked on the side of a football pitch. We must have looked like locals as some kids asked us how to get into the tennis courts. No sign of an accuel so wandered about and then approached by a lady from one of the caravans. She luckily had the organiser on touch dial, though no answer and just told us to pick a spot. 30 Mins later another super friendly chap and a women in high viz approached us, obviously the patron and for some reason the grounds person???? Lots of handshaking with both and the deal was done 4euros and 80cents!!!!!! Oh my lord, I know its basic but wow, very happy. Just have shopped for the evening meal going to put mini steamer to test and have some veggies and salmon, picture to follow hopefully.

Steamer activity needs some working on, doesn't cook as at home but nice to have veggies, though in stages:-) Dave painted for the first time tonight.

Day 6 St Berthevin to la selle Craonnaise 45km

Lovely cycle down the voires verts yet again, nicely shaded and much less stoney. The old train routes. So organised and pretty and FLAT :-) Read paper bought by the E'cosse to commemorate the win by Andy at little cafe and epicerie and post office at Ahuille we think ( a man with everything covered). Picked up stores. Continued down to Craon via beautiful picnic area(see photo) and did the usual cycle round in circles to find the tourist office (closed 12 - 3pm) as all good places are which is unfortunate as we seem to always arrive at the crucial places at this time - damn. Continued to la selle Craonnaise which was completely closed for the day! so without any real food continued to the campsite 3 km away. A mix up with interpretation of the signs we entered a farm yard thinking perhaps the right place but the three huge dogs (unchained :/!!!) quickly had us on our way luckily in the right direction to the campsite next to a water sports area where we got a pitch for 11 euro. nice shady spot. Unfortunately no shop but we rustled up the remnants of our food sac just before the gas ran  out. Supplemented as I type with a plate of chips and 2 beers (keeping on budget somehow with a squirreled away 10 euro of dave's?????)

Day 5 ambrieres le vallees to laval on the voires vertes next to the river Mayenne 40km

Bit of a slow start after a noisy night on the camp site listening to German oompah music for some bizarre reason until 12MN and hot with sleeping at a jaunty angle, therefore little sleep (and the cheap bottle of wine perhaps). However lovely cycle along the river, though a bit bumpy at times for the tyres, mostly mountain bike territory along the rivers, not tourers with 22kg of weight, but no punctures thankfully. Chatted to a French couple of cyclists at Montgiroux along the way managed to practice my french and was understood!!  Arrived at Laval and yet again the tourist information a font of knowledge and guided us through a trading estate to the municipal campsite at St Berthevin a snip at 9 euros 20cents :). Then shock horror informed by Isabel and Bill from Dundee, in the area for the Tour de France, and therefore very proud Scots that the dr

ought of a British person winning Wimbledon was broken YAY Andy!!!!!!!! Knew it would happen with us unable to watch, but don't think he will be concerned about that. Good sporting weekend all round, the French happy with their winner, the British Lions and Froome too! Time for bed and what promises to be a much quieter night.

Voires Verts

travelled along cycle paths to Domfront and on to Arbieller for a night's camping with a bottle of red for 1.70 euros!...good for the budget.

ready for bed and the next part of the journey along the river

Day 1 Raining in France???!!!

4th July 05.15 (English time) Woken by Brittany ferry chap knocking on door and then coming in as we had forgotten the clock going forward type activity. Afraid to say still a tad drunk (as I said bad idea). fastest shower, dress and luckily with everything intact out and on the road. It was raining dear reader!!!!!!! We had left blue skies in Portsmouth! However with years of finely tuned weather watching in the country that is Blighty, I knew it would dissipate at some point (and my obsessive googling BBC weather in week leading up to going.) It was actually a god send and cycling a little tipsy and pretty shattered would have been hideous in blazing heat. Into Caen 11km and then a well deserved coffee (not going to be many of them, the most expensive purchase of the day). Petit dejeuner of banana in baguette and then cycle round in circles trying to find the route out. Then a lovely 34km cycle past the really quite emotional poppy strewn fields of north Normandy, a little hillier than I had led myself and Dave to believe,  but we did it. Slowly but surely the weather improved and now sat in blazing sunshine as I type, camped 1km from Clecy, by the river and its every bit as gorgeous as I hoped. Tried a bit of French but as Mr Clarke at Heysham High would have said"must try harder", well most teachers really in the 4th and 5th year :/. But I shall get there.

5th July Day Three. Its hot!!!! and we know its going to get hotter. 35 degrees forecast at La Rochelle next week :/ However must not grumble or will be in trouble. Bit of a late start a after a good  first night under canvas. Then a horrid cycle up a long hill on a horrid busy road out of Clecy. Got to first slight flatten, followed Dave into laybye then couldn't get left foot out of peddle strap, tipped over in very slow motion much to Dave's and two lovely women who stopped to check i was ok. One of the women had actually turned round and come back. Except for grazed left arm and dinted pride I was. Got to Conde de Noireau and carried out a map purchase to reduce potential chance of ending up on huge main roads. Oh how I love a map. Dave never quite as enamoured as I double check route at every opportunity but it keeps us on right track. Arrived in Flers at the height of the heat, took shelter whilst an incredibly accommodating team at the tourist information centre charged the tablet. By which time too tired, hot and ever so slightly grumpy to continue. Decision to stay in nice campsite and very cheap 9 euro versus 18 from last night, with I am reliably informed better toilets and WIFI so hope to post this tonight. Plan early night after carb up then early start down voires verts (info again from lovely team in tourist info)